Quote:
Originally Posted by Jeffhs
GE went one step further with its "VIR -- Broadcast Controlled Color" system, which used a signal in the vertical blanking bar to adjust and correct the color settings if necessary. However, one drawback of the GE "VIR" system was that the TV station or network to which the set was tuned had to be transmitting the VIR signal in the blanking interval; without that signal, the VIR system could not and did not work. I had a great-uncle who owned a GE VIR TV, but he never used the VIR function; in fact, I don't think he was even aware that his TV had the feature in the first place.
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Quasar also made sets with VIR, for about two years in 79-80. They were introduced during the transition from SuperModule to DynaModule chassis. The main difference between these and the GEs is that if you had VIR turned on (it was a slide switch) on the GEs and the station wasn't broadcasting the VIR signal, the TV would interpret whatever else was in there as a control signal and use it to adjust hue and color levels all over the place. We had a GE that regularly showed bright blue faces, etc. on the local ABC affiliate.
The Quasar sets would disable VIR when the reference wasn't detected on the 19th line, delivering a "normal" picture.
I think everyone just turned it off after a short time.